This is the Axiom Stratus, a innovative workshop air cleaner. Axiom says that the Stratus filter media can be configured for different pollutants, such as dust, smoke, or odors.
It features a turbine-style blower and full 360° filter design that Axiom says has nearly 16X the surface area compared to traditional filters.
The design looks to build upon existing air purifier and filter designs, such as from BlueAir (via Amazon) and others, although I cannot get over how much it looks like a public trash can.
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The Stratus comes from Axiom Tool Group, known for their Axiom Precision CNC routers. JPW Industries, the company that owns JET, Powermatic, Wilton, Baileigh, and other tool brands, acquired the Axiom Tool Group in 2021.
Axiom launched the Stratus in 2019, describing it as an ambient air cleaner that is “both elegant and effective.” They say it “renders ceiling-mounted air cleaners obsolete by drawing dusty air down, rather than upward past the operator’s nose and mouth.”
Axiom also describes the Stratus as being portable and rugged, and say it’s suited for woodworking and other industrial applications.
The Stratus has a 2-stage filter, with washable pre-filter and pleated canister filter. An activated charcoal insert is also available.
Key Features and Specifications
- 115V, 5.5A motor
- 3 speeds – 1700, 2200, 2500 RPM
- MERV 15 filter performance
- 1440 m³/hr max air volume
- 75mm H2O max static pressure
- 65 dB to 76 dB noise level at 10 feet
- Stainless steel housing
- Non-woven washable pre-filter
- 1µm at 98% canister filter efficiency
- Weighs 66 lbs
- 39″ tall x 16″ wide x 16″ deep
Price: $599
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Replacement filters are $99 for the set (at Amazon), and the odor-capturing charcoal filter is $99 (at Amazon).
Discussion
Jet recently launched a new “smarter” air cleaner with a design that breaks the ceiling-mounted box-filter mold that has been popular for a long time.
Powermatic also came out with a large diameter fan-based air filter, rather than using an HVAC-style air blower. It retails for $750 at Amazon and other dealers.
Jet offers traditional boxy and ceiling-mounted air cleaners, Powermatic has their fan-like filter, and Axion has the floor-standing tube-shaped air cleaner.
Jet, Powermatic, and Axiom are all owned by JPW Industries, a Gamut Capital company.
Which design is best?
The Axiom does look interesting, but I would sooner choose the Jet and Powermatic designs.
Air cleaners are traditionally ceiling-mounted for a reason. From what I have seen, they capture more fine particulates from breathing-level air, and there are less obstructions higher up, allowing for stronger airflow patterns.
Given the Axiom Stratus air cleaner’s size, how well will it cycle the air in a smaller workshop, where much of space at the same level is occupied by tools and equipment?
1440 cubic meters per hour of max air volume flow converts to ~848 CFM. The noise level at the highest fan speed and power level is said to be 76 dB at 10 feet.
There doesn’t look to be a remote control option, or any kind of timer.
The Stratus is a very interesting design – if you can get over appearance.
Bonnie
I’ve seen a lot of people building their own versions of these. They’re pretty fool-proof to DIY, you just buy a Wynn canister filter, screw it to a plywood foot, and stick an 8″ duct fan to the top. A little over $300 and twenty minutes of time.
The Wynn filters also have 3x the filter area of this Axiom.
Overall I think this design is better suited to people that prefer to move the air cleaner to the area they’re working in, rather than permanently installed as a whole-shop solution like the ceiling-mounted varieties.
MM
Based on the description of “pulling air down” and its appearance it seems like they are pulling the dusty air through the fan first and then discharging it into the filter. That seems like a poor decision. I hope there is some kind of pre-filter involved otherwise that’s just asking to load up the fan with dust.
Stuart
If it’s like the Blue consumer air purifier, it should pull air through the cylinder and up and out of the top.
MM
That would make a lot more sense, though I wouldn’t describe it as drawing the air “down” in that case. Their marketingspeak is misleading. Drawing air “down”, to me, implies that the fan is pointed downward.
Skines
It is drawing the dirty air down, pushing the clean air up.
Scott K
It has to pull it down since this is meant to be placed on the floor rather than ceiling-mounted- so the dust and smoke floating in the air naturally comes toward the ground.
Mike
Stumpy Nubs highlight this cleaner in a video a few years ago. Not much detail but I always enjoy his cool tool videos. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtpkbYCnwpI
Robert
One reason filtering system in commercial applications are mounted high is that fine particulates are generally going to “hide” up high. And fine particulates in many ways are the greatest health concern. So for that reason alone I would pass on Stratus. And it does look like a public trash can.
Ct451
I agree. You would be pulling them back past people’s noses and mouths. You would install an exhaust fan at the top end of a wall. Not the bottom.
Bonnie
I also think the whole “pulling air past the user” thing is drastically overstated for marketing. These are air cleaners, not collectors. The fine dust is getting distributed through the whole shop airspace if it’s escaping the point-of-use collection at all.
Chris
Pretty much. I have this but it’s only really useful with my belt sander (which just puts out too much dust for my dust extractor to catch). It does a good job but it’s extremely loud and seems a better fit for someone like a drywall installer or construction/remodeler where you want something with good airflow+filtration that you can drag around between different rooms.
Frank D
The particles should want to fall down on surfaces and to the ground, so the mechanism is fine me … but gee that price tag again, and it probably could benefit from some wheels. Or a wheeled base to plop it on.
Koko The Talking Ape
“The particles should want to fall down on surfaces and to the ground…” Depends on the size of the particle. Larger particles will fall quickly, medium particles will fall slowly, and the finest particles can stay suspended in the air for a long time. Those are the most dangerous ones, btw. 🙂
Koko The Talking Ape
Another reason why air purifiers are mounted on the ceiling is so they don’t take up precious floor space.
I suppose you could mount this Axiom upside down on the ceiling, but then you’d bump your head on it.
Koko The Talking Ape
The shop where I volunteer installed that Powermatic recently. Even on high, you can barely tell it’s on. You have to look at the indicator lights. It’s also aimable to some extent, if that matters to you. The remote is pretty cool, as long as you don’t lose it. I might prefer a phone app that works by Bluetooth or something.
Kris P
A windox box fan and 20x20x2 filter works for me.
Kilroy
The WEN ceiling mounted air filters go on sale occasionally and aren’t too expensive. Not ideal and not for finer particles, but it’s tough to beat outer filters that are $10 each when bought in bulk.
I’ve used a box fan and a 20×20 furnaces air filter, but that requires some significant compromises (pick one: filter efficiency for fine particles or airflow) and a lot of tape to seal up the filter to the fan. Definitely better than nothing and not a bad option if that’s all you need, though.
Chris
I got this a few years ago based on positive reviews. It works great but it’s REALLY REALLY REALLY loud so I basically never use it (louder than my belt sander, about the same as my Mini Gorilla dust collector but higher pitched). The only tool I really need it for is my belt sander, and it’s easier to just wait for nice weather and use the belt sander outside (I’ll eventually get a Rotex and will be done with that, too). It’s better fit for a construction site than my home shop. I’ve had it up on craigslist for half price for about 6 months now with zero interest.
Jack D
The key to workshop dust collection and air cleaning is to capture the smaller particles that are in the air. The idea behind having one or two air scrubbers mounted to the ceiling is to capture those lighter particles while they’re still floating around, so creating air circulation overhead will help pull those finer dust particles into your scrubbers, i.e., with additional fans, etc. Plunking this unit down in the middle of the room seems to defeat the entire purpose of building that effective circulation… I just don’t see it.
Stuart
Exactly. In smaller spaces, I cannot see how this can create an unobstructed air circulation pattern.
Floor standing is better than nothing, but ceiling mounting seems better if and where possible.
Garrick
Amazon won’t ship the Stratus to California because it doesn’t meet California’s air cleaner regulation requirements. So it’s maybe not a good air cleaner?
Bonnie
Without looking further, I’d guess the fan/blower they use produces too much ozone to be certified for indoor home use.